If you’re a fan of community gardens, but are under the impression that they just spring up overnight with no plan or direction, think again. A non-profit organization called Grassroots Gardens is behind most of the community garden efforts that you see popping up around Buffalo. For many, keeping track of these gardens can be a bit daunting. That’s why the organization has created a website where you can browse different neighborhoods in Buffalo in search of the community gardens that you can identify with.
The Grassroots Gardens’ website features an easy to use, interactive mapping system that makes it fun to find the community gardens in your neighborhood. I wasn’t aware of this online initiative until recently. Now I can simply go to the Grassroots Gardens’ website where all of the gardens are “pinned” on a Google map of Buffalo.
From there users can click on the pins and pull up more information on the respective gardens. At the bottom of the page there is an additional resource where all of the different Grassroots Gardens neighborhoods are listed – Black Rock and Riverside Gardens, East Side Gardens, Fruitbelt Gardens, South Buffalo Gardens, West Side Gardens, University Neighborhood Gardens.
If you’re not familiar with the efforts of Grassroots Gardens, the organization is dedicated to taking abandoned properties in the city and revitalizing them into productive community gardens. Each garden is different, in that some are simply for growing flowers, while others offer fresh produce. But they all have one thing in common – they are tools meant to empower the communities where they are located. At this point there are over 70 Grassroots Gardens scattered throughout the city. These gardens are easy to spot due to attractive signage and telltale community-inspired designs.
When you visit the website, and click around on the various gardens, you will be prompted to become engaged with these incredible efforts. The organization leases the land from The City, and relies on the community for support throughout the process. In the end, these gardens are designed, built and maintained thanks to people like you who understand the importance of having a vibrant living garden instead of an abandoned and derelict lot.
Click here to visit the map, and get onboard with Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
